Role: Civil Engineering Degree Apprentice

Career Area: Engineering Design 

Current Study Level: Degree Apprenticeship 

Location: Leeds

My role at SYSTRA

I have worked in a few different teams, originally working as a CAD technician in the Transpennine Route Upgrade East (TRUe) E3 team. This was where I learnt most of my CAD skills. Following this I moved to a team working on the East Coast Mainline Power Supply Upgrade 2, where I worked on as-built drawings. 

Day-to-day I mainly do 2D and 3D CAD designs, as well as practicing engineering work with the help of qualified engineers in my team.

The overall objective of my position is to provide CAD support and submit high quality CAD drawings, keeping to the timescales required as well as continuously progressing to improve my skills and value to the company.

Why I chose a degree apprenticeship

I always had an interest in engineering but was never sure what area to go into. As well as this, I knew I wanted to do an apprenticeship as I believe it is the middle ground between full-time study and full-time employment, with the benefits of both. I knew the university route wasn’t for me due to the less hands-on aspects, but I still wanted to progress my qualifications – after looking at different companies I found SYSTRA.

I felt the goals of the company and its missions for the future fit well with my own outlook and ambitions – it seemed like the sort of place I would be happy working for years to come.

We asked Arron…
How have your technical skills developed throughout your apprenticeship?

Day-to-day work feels like second nature now, and the fluidity of my work has improved with me becoming more independent. Over time I have also picked up terminology and techniques that would be hard to come by outside of a working environment. 

How have you grown personally through doing an apprenticeship?

I feel I have grown personally to have more confidence and take more pride and joy in my work due to the security it provides and the knowledge I am in a good company. At SYSTRA I know I’m valued and seen as more than just a number. 

What advice would you offer to someone who’s unsure if an apprenticeship is right for them?

It really depends what you want out of your next few years – in my opinion it takes more work than university or work with no study, however you will gain invaluable experience and an income to help you set yourself up for the future. 

How does SYSTRA stand out as a great place to work?

To me SYSTRA stands out as a great place to work because of the people I’m surrounded by. It is collaborative and a social company that provides plenty of benefits such as socials and lunchtime talks, on top of hybrid working flexibility. 

What’s your favourite thing about your job right now?

My favourite thing is the flexibility available at times to work from home and from different offices. This helps me look after my wellbeing as well as encourages a more sociable element to working days. 

Diversity is powerful. What unique perspective do you offer as an apprentice?

As an apprentice I believe I get to experience a wide and varied overview of the business, as my apprenticeship allows me to explore different disciplines and levels of engineering. 

What would an entirely green future look like? How should our industry contribute?

I think an entirely green future would look very similar to today’s world on the surface, but instead it would be powered by renewable energy, and there would be a huge increase in the reliability and speed of public transport. Our industry will play a large part in this by considering sustainability goals and viewing each design as individual, never using methods just because they worked on another project. 

You can spend your lunchbreak with anyone you admire – who would you choose?

In an industry setting I would like to spend my lunchbreak with the head of a large project such as TRU and see what is involved in making sure everything runs to budget, on time and successfully. 

What is your next big career goal?

My next big goal will be finishing my Level 5 qualification, and then achieving my civil engineering degree. 

What excites you about your career future?

My future career is still a work in progress – and that excites me. It can be shaped as I find and specialise in areas which interest me the most. 

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